Reviews

Photographer William Yang has been an observer, social chronicler and storyteller for most of his life. To celebrate his 80th year of examining his place on our planet, William is taking his photographs on the road. Milestone is more than a slide show: it is a celebration of William’s philosophy that “life is to be enjoyed!” But, as expected for someone who has lived such a full life, there are many sadnesses as well as life-affirming moments along the way.

It’s the Friday before a long weekend at aged-care facility Autumn Dale Village.  Admin – and a lot more – Pia (Melanie Madrigali) is dealing with phone calls, emails, rosters, a bullying superior, her ex-husband, and a fractious 13-year-old daughter.  She does all that while staying available and sympathetic to residents dementia sufferer Lauren (Rosemary Johns) and ever-anxious, garrulous Colleen (Jane Clifton).  If the play sounds potentially close to sit-com, Irene Korsten’s day-in-the-life play does veer close to that, but genuine, angry conflict,

Chicago – a 1920s story of jazz, murder and media – premiered on Broadway 50 years ago and while a few of the ideas may have dated, its musical brilliance has lost nothing in that half-century. This production might be the ‘Teen’ edition but Musical Theatre Crew’s Chicago doesn’t shy away from musical and choreographic challenges of the full version, and Crew’s large cast work hard under Leiz Moore’s direction.

French-born choreographer Benjamin Millepied, founder and director of L.A. Dance Project (est. 2011), brought a rare program of American contemporary dance to Brisbane Festival: a trilogy of works inspired by precious stones — rubies, diamonds, and emeralds. Created between 2014 and 2016, these works have been performed internationally, but their reconfiguration here into a thematic triptych marked an Australian first.